Firearm



Mamh 28, 1944- H. H. PICKENS FIREARM Filed Janf 28. 1 941 2 sheets-sh eet 1 In ventor H m fiwa rd 77 s B y M A tiomey March 28, 1944. H. H. PICKENS FIREARM Filed M1. 28. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ventqr gigm v Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIREARM Homer Howard Pickens, lexarkana, Tex; Application January 28, 1941, serial No. 373,396 3 Claims. (c1; 42ft) tion for instant loading by hand into the breech or cartridge chamber of the firearm.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the appended drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general right hand side elevational view showing the invention in the form of an attachment for a shot gun.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the attachment.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through Figure 2 along the line 3--3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 2 along the line 4-4.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure 3 along the line 55.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure 1 along the line 6-6.

Figure 7 is a left hand end elevational view of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view similar to Figure 4 but showing application of the invention to a double-barrel type of firearm.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates the cartridge magazine which is devised to be supported upon the top of the barrel or barrels of the firearm to discharge the cartridges in the immediate neighborhood of the breech or of the cartridge cham ber opening of the firearm, the said magazine being arranged substantially parallel with the barrel or barrels, and being equipped with sights for use in aiming the firearm. The said magazine 5 consists of an elongated substantially uniform diameter tube 6 designed to lie along the top of the barrel or barrels 1 of the firearm which is generally designated 8, with the forward end of the tube extending a suitable distance along the barrel and toward the front end thereof, and with the rear end 9 of the tube aligned with or substantially aligned with the loading breech III of the barrel I, so that a minimum amount of transfer will be required to place a cartridge withdrawn from the tube 6 into the breech of the firearm.

A substantially semi-circular base II is suitablyconnected or attached as indicated by the numeral l2 to the bottom of the tube 6, the base H to overlie and rest upon the top part of the barrel 1 from a suitable point 13 adjacent the rear end of the tube to a point l4 slightly in advance of the front end of the tube. A forward end portion ofthe base II has lateral flanges I5 and I6 which match substantially similar flanges H and I8 on a substantially semi-circular clamp side of the'tube holds the ring 2| in place. Several of the cartridges 22 are arranged in end to end relation as illustrated in Figure 2 and to be .pressed rearwardly by the engagement of a cupshaped element 24 into which one end of an expanding helical spring 25 is socketed, with the opposite end of the spring engaging the inner 'face 26 of the removable plug 21. The plug fits into the front end of the tube 6 a suitable distance and has a bayonet pin projecting laterally therefrom for engagement with an L-shaped bayonet slot 29 formed in the end of the tube to hold the plug removably in place. The forward part of the plug is reduced as indicated by the numeral 30 and provided with a knob 3| for convenience in manipulation. An axially extending pin 32 is provided for insertion into the adjacent coils of the spring 25, so as to guide the plug and the spring into proper cooperative relation when inserting and removing the plug and the spring. For convenience in operation the cup-shaped element 24 is attached, as by crimping, to the end of the spring 25 so that the cupshaped element is removed upon removal of the spring. The cartridges 22 are inserted in the tube from the rear against the resistance of the spring 25 which is held in place by the plug 21.

Holding the cartridges in the tube 6 under tension and operable to release the cartridges all at once or one by one is the pair of J-sh-aped triggers 33 and 34 which are pivoted in horizontal positions on opposite sides of the rear end of the tube 6 on laterally projecting lugs 35 and 36. Longitudinally arranged leaf springs 31 and 38 engage between forward portions of the triggers and the sides of the tube to hold the crooks of the triggers engaged with the rim of the cartridge as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of t e drawings. Compression of one of the triggers 33 and 35 will leave the other trigger in retaining position with relation to the cartridges, conpression of both of the triggers being necessary to release one 01' more of the cartridges. As the cartridge emerges from the rear end 9 of the magazine it is immediately available to the hand of the operator of the firearm for rapid anddirect transfer to the breech ID of the firearm. The bevel or curvature of the rearfportions of the crooks of the levers 33 and 34 serve as cams to spread the levers as the shells are pressed forwardly into the tube in;loading the tube.

Referring to Figure 8, showing mounting of the device of the invention on, a double barreled firearm, it will be noted, that the upper clamping portion of the base H is designated. by the numeral Ma and is duplex in character instead of single. Similarly the lower clampingmember |9a corresponding to the lower-clamping member I9 is duplex instead of being single, Otherwise the clamping,arrangements are the same as described above, so that the magazine 5a, has its tube 6;; mounted centrally and longitudinally with respect to thedouble barrels 'laand lb, of a firearm such as a double barreledshot gun.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of my invention, it is. to be definitely understood that Iv do not wish to limit the application of the invention thereto, except as may be required by the. scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a shot gun having a barrel including a cartridge chamber at the rearward end thereof, a magazine com-prising a base-ha-ving a longitudinal depression in its underside to conformably receive and lie alongthe top of the barrel, a tube fixed on said base to contain a number of cartridges in end to end relation, and having open rearward and forward ends, the rearward end of the tube being located close above said cartridge chamber and forming -a discharge end, manually releasable cartridge retaining means on said discharge end of the tube, said retaining means being adapted to be engaged by the rearmost cartridge in the tube, a removable retainer on the forward end of the tube, longitudinal expanding spring means in said tube retained by said retainer, a longitudinally movable cartridge abutment in said tube, said cartridge abutment being urged toward the discharge end of said tube by said spring means and engageable with the foremost cartridge in the tube, and clamp means for securing said base in place on the barrel;

2. In a firearm having at least one barrel Provided with a cartridge chamber adjacent its rearward end, a magazine consisting of a longitudinally split tubular base consisting of a firstsection lying along and conforming to a substantial part of one side of the barrel and a second section lying along and conforming to a substantial part of the opposite side of said barrel, clamping means to contract the sections on the barrel, a cartridge tube secured along one of said sections, said cartridge tube having a rearward and forming a cartridge discharge opening located immediately ad,- iacent to said cartridge chamber.

3. In a firearm having at least one barrel provided with a cartridge chamber adjacent its rearward end, a magazine consisting of a longitudinally split tubular base consisting of a first section lying along and conforming to a substantial part of one side of the barrel and a second section lying along and conforming to a substantial part of the opposite side of said barrel, clamping means to contract the sections on the barrel, a cartridge tube secured along one of said sections, said cartridge tube having a rearward end forming a cartridge discharge opening located immediately ad'- jacent to said cartridge chamber, said first section being substantially longer than said second section, said first section lying along the top of the barrel and said second section lying along the underside of the barrel, said clamping means engaging only a forward part of said first section.

HOMER HOWARD PICKENS. 

